The Odyssey- “The Cyclops” Notes
The Cyclops- is a huge one-eyed giant who lives in a cave around other Cyclopes.
Polyphemus-the Cyclops- is the son of Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes
Odysseus explores the land where the Cyclopes live and he is overly curious.
His curiosity is a flaw and gets him into trouble.
The Cyclops is not a very hospitable host- (there are Greek laws about hosting
guests) Polyphemus does not care about Zeus or other gods punishing him for being
a poor host.
Polyphemus traps Odysseus and 12 of his crewmen in his cave.
Odysseus and his men do not have enough strength to move the rock slab in front of
the cave’s opening. They are trapped until they can trick the Cyclops into moving
the rock- (he is the only giant with enough strength.)
 Odysseus has to be creative in his thinking about escaping.
 He decides that he and his men cannot kill the Cyclops, because they would
perish in the cave too, (because they cannot move the rock slab.)
 He decides that he will blind the Cyclops in order to manipulate him to open
up the cave so that he and his men can escape.
Odysseus’ two weapons are: a goatskin full of wine (very strong wine) to get
Polyphemus drunk, and a wooden pole/spear (on fire).
 After Polyphemus gets drunk, Odysseus and his men use the six-foot pole
with a carved, sharp, burning tip at the end to stab the Cyclops in his only
eye.
 Just before Odysseus stabs the Cyclops, he tells him his name is “Nohbdy.”
(Sounds like Nobody)- crafty…
 When the Cyclops screams in pain from Odysseus stabbing him, other
Cyclopes come to his aid.
 When the other giants ask Polyphemus who is harming him, he replies,
“Nohbdy’s ruined me.” The other giants think that nobody or no one has hurt
him, and he is having pain that cannot be helped. (Revenge could not be
sought on natural pain, so the other giants leave.)
 Odysseus’ plan (calling himself “Nohbdy” works.)
 The Cyclops is blinded- but Odysseus has lost 6 men to Polyphemus’
cannibalism.
With the Cyclops disabled, Odysseus has to create a plan to escape.
 He and his remaining men cling to Polyphemus’ sheep/rams. They place
themselves holding onto the animals’ necks with their legs wrapped around
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their hindquarters. (the men are chest to chest with the animals.) That is
how they escape the cave.
Odysseus and his men steal the sheep and rams, but he makes the mistake of
being vengeful or vindictive. He yells out to the Cyclops that he has defeated
him. (Odysseus’ hubris – excessive pride- gets him in trouble.)
The Cyclops throws a mountaintop at Odysseus’ ships and almost sinks them
from the tidal wave.
The Cyclops is furious that a man, not a giant, has defeated him.
Polyphemus tells Odysseus that his father is Poseidon, and he prays to
Poseidon to curse Odysseus and his journey.